Southern Garrett ends Berkeley Springs two-game winning streak
Coming off back to back road wins over Petersburg and Frankfort, Berkeley Springs traveled to Oakland, Md. on Friday, September 23 with a lot of momentum and confidence. However, costly turnovers proved to be more than Berkeley Springs could overcome as they fell to Southern Garrett, 42-18.
The two teams traded punches for most of the first half, before Southern scored 28 unanswered points to take control of the game.
The Rams broke a scoreless tie on the second play of the second quarter to take a 7-0 lead. But that lead didn't last long as Berkeley Springs Andrew Truax returned the ensuing kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown. Zach Wise nailed the extra point tying the game at 7-7, with 11:22 remaining in the first half.
The back-and-forth continued as the Rams got a big kickoff return of their own and then punched the ball in from 1-yard out five plays later. The PAT was good, giving Southern a 14-7 lead at the 8:43 mark of quarter number two.
The Indians cut Southern's lead to 14-10 when Wise drilled a 23-yard field goal following a 10-play, 52-yard drive, with 5:32 remaining in the opening half.
But, Southern came right back, marching 80 yards in 10 plays to take a 21-10 lead with 2:08 left on the first-half clock.
On the ensuing possession Berkeley Springs quarterback Mark Cowles threw the first of three interceptions from his own 23-yard line and Southern took advantage of the Indian mistake, scoring on 14-yard touchdown pass to take a commanding 28-10 halftime lead.
The Indians received the second half kickoff, but on the second play from scrimmage Cowles was intercepted again and, once more the Rams took advantage of the turnover, marching 46 yards in six plays to extend the lead to 35-10.
The nightmare continued when Cowles threw his third pick at the Indian 42-yard line on Berkeley Springs second offensive series of the third quarter.
Two plays later, with 6:48 remaining in the quarter, Southern Garrett put the final nail in the Indian coffin on a 42-yard touchdown run.
Berkeley Springs scored the final points of the game when tailback Zach White scored on a 49-yard touchdown run with 11:03 remaining in the game. White broke a couple of tackles at the line of scrimmage and out-sprinted the Ram defense into the end zone. A successful 2-point conversion completed the scoring.
"Without turnovers it's a whole different ball game," said Berkeley Springs coach Angelo Luvara. “Of course we had our opportunities at the beginning of the game and didn't take advantage of them. Anthony LaFollette intercepted Southern on the first series and had an easy touchdown but fumbled the ball. We recovered the fumble but still didn't take advantage of our opportunity. Two of our losses this season have been self-inflicted. We have been our own worst enemy at times. We have some play makers and our kids are playing hard, we just can't continue turning the ball over."
Berkeley Springs, 2-3, will host Moorefield, 3-2, this Friday, September 30 in the annual homecoming game.
"Moorefield is big up front and have a good running back and really good safety," Luvara said. We just have to be more disciplined on both sides of the ball and must do a better job of protecting the football in order to get back into the win column."
Game stats
BS SG
First Downs 7 15
Rushing yards 26-134-1 td
38-198-6 td
Passing yards 5-20-56-3 int
9-17-128-1 int
Total yards 46-190 55-326
Ind Rushing - Zach White 12-76-1 td; TJ Patrick 11-45; Cowles 2-12; William Colliflower 1-1
Receiving - Truax 3-16; Brady Spielman 1-29; White 1-11
Tackles - LaFollette 10 + 1 int; Matt Arrowood 12; Loguen McKee 9; Cody Burch 8; Preston Hovermale 8; Brady Spielman 8; Richard Montelius 8
